Marvin Britton

Marvin's Story

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Funeral services for Marvin (Pappa) Britton, 89, of Palestine will be at 2:00 PM Sunday, October 9, 2016, at Herrington/ Land of Memory Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Donnie Howard, along with his grandchildren officiating. Burial will follow at Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Maydelle.
Marvin went to be with his Lord on Wednesday, October 5, 2016, at his home surrounded by his family.
He was born October 3, 1927, near Maydelle, Texas in Cherokee County on his family's farm to Jesse Lee and Flossie Harris Britton. He graduated from Maydelle High School in 1946. On July 6, 1946, he married his high school sweetheart Lealand Lamb. This past July, with all their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren in attendance, they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.
Their first two years of marriage, Marvin worked alongside his dad on the family farm. In 1948 they moved to Waco, Texas where he started working for Lone Star Gas. In 1950 they moved to Jacksonville, Texas where Marvin began a long career with United Gas Co./ ENTEX. While in Jacksonville, all three of their children were born. As his career advanced, he transferred to Nacogdoches, Texas 1961. In 1963, along with his family, Marvin moved to Trinity, Texas where he was the Local Representative for the gas company, serving Trinity County. He served on the Trinity Volunteer Fire Dept. as Safety Director and Chairman of the Retirement Board. Marvin was a Charter member of the Trinity County Emergency Corp. He was elected as the first secretary and soon was elected as the Director. In 1973, Marvin was promoted to Senior Service Representative, and was transferred to Huntsville, Texas. In 1979, Marvin and Lealand moved to Palestine, Texas and he retired from the Gas Company in 1992.
After retirement, they began traveling in their RV. They were members of the Luf 2 Go Good Sam RV Club for 25 years. Marvin held the offices of President, Vice-President, and Wagon Master. In addition to his RV travels, he loved his trips to New York, Washington DC, San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, London, and Paris.
He is a Charter Member of Bassett Road Baptist Church where he served as Deacon and taught Sunday School.
He was a master craftsman. He enjoyed restoring old furniture, and making new furniture and other wood craft items.
After supporting and encouraging his children in all of their activities and endeavors, his greatest pleasure was his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He loved teaching them faith, family, and work ethics. He enjoyed spending time on his farm in Maydelle, especially when he worked beside his grandchildren. He loved spending time with all his family and sharing stories about each of them. Marvin always had a smile on his face and never met a stranger.
Throughout the years of their marriage, Marvin and Lealand were inseparable and never slowed down until Marvin's illness a couple of years ago. From that time on, Lealand tirelessly attended to him at their home.
He was preceded in death by his parents, son-in-law Jerry Marsh, great granddaughter Sydney Britton, mother-in-law Eula Lamb and father-in-law Frank Lamb, and several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Marvin is survived by his wife of 70 years, Lealand Lamb Britton, daughter Diann Marsh of Palestine, sons Lynn Britton and Marty DeBow of Houston and Ted Britton and Teresa of Palestine; grandchildren Jeremy Marsh and Kim, Kendra Flores and Jimmy, Jeff Britton and Andrea, Patrick Britton and Heather, Jacob Britton and Katy, Shane Britton and Mandy, and Zachary Britton; great grandchildren Brittany and Jeremy Lawson and Graycee Marsh, Anna Aron, Eden, and Elijah Flores, Megan and Hannah Britton, Cayden, Abigail, and Madelyn Britton and Quinn and Collins Britton; brothers Donald Britton and Bobbie of Tyler, Rayburn Britton and Katrina of Mineola; sister-in-law Anita Lamb of Palestine; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Jeremy Marsh, Jimmy Flores, Jeff Britton, Patrick Britton, Jacob Britton, Shane Britton, Zachary Britton, Aron Flores, Cayden Britton, and Elijah Flores.
The family would like to give special thanks to Brandy Watson, Stephanie Lufsey, Debbie Hughes, KiKe Clewis and Vernette Crawford for the wonderful care they gave to our love one.
A visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 pm Saturday, October 8, 2016, at Herrington/ Land of Memory Funeral Home.
View online at www.herringtonfuneral.com